2021- 2022 Service Revisions Preliminary Proposal Prepared for: Performance Monitoring and External Relations Committee Draft 1/30/2020 Spokane Transit assures nondiscrimination in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information, see www.spokanetransit.com. Upon request, alternative formats of this information will be produced for people who are disabled. Please call (509) 325-6094 (TTY WA Relay 711) or email [email protected]. 2021- 2022 Service Revisions 1 Spokane Transit Authority Draft 1/30/2020 Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 3 September 2020 Service Revisions ......................................................................................... 3 May 2021 Service Revisions .................................................................................................... 3 May 2022 Service Revisions .................................................................................................... 4 Development of the Preliminary Proposal ..................................................................................... 5 Proposed Revisions ......................................................................................................................... 7 Increased Service to Airway Heights ....................................................................................... 7 Fairchild Air Force Base, Airway Heights, & Spokane International Airport Proposed Route Concepts ................................................................................................................................. 8 Concept A: Fairchild Air Force Base, Airway Heights, & Spokane International Airport ........ 9 Concept B: Fairchild Air Force Base, Airway Heights, & Spokane International Airport ...... 12 Greater Spokane Valley Network Adjustments .................................................................... 16 Expand Hillyard and Northeast Spokane Routes .................................................................. 27 Concept A: Northeast Spokane ............................................................................................. 28 Concept B: Northeast Spokane ............................................................................................. 39 Frequency Assumptions ........................................................................................................ 49 Budget Considerations .......................................................................................................... 51 Next Steps ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Title VI Implications................................................................................................................... 52 Paratransit Boundary Implications ........................................................................................... 52 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 57 Rider Roundtable Discussion Notes .......................................................................................... 57 All Employee Meeting Exercise Notes ...................................................................................... 64 Online Workshop Summary Report .......................................................................................... 68 2021- 2022 Service Revisions 2 Spokane Transit Authority Draft 1/30/2020 Executive Summary In 2020, Spokane Transit will embark on the construction of its first bus rapid transit line, the Central City Line (now rebranded as the City Line), as part of the vision for high performance transit and in keeping with the STA Moving Forward plan. With its high capacity battery-electric buses, substantial stations, frequent service and streamlined operations, the City Line will function as part of an enhanced network to connect workers to jobs, people to services and partner in regional economic development. To create this functionality, STA has long planned to revise existing routes that connect to the City Line corridor, as well as introduce other service improvements. Additionally, STA intends to make other route revisions to improve system performance as part of the continuous effort to deliver service to more customers within limited resources. This report is the first in a series of iterations that depicts how STA’s routes and schedules could be altered between now and the opening of the City Line in May 2022. Unless otherwise noted, the implementation of these improvements is subject to a phased consultation process, beginning with this Preliminary Proposal and leading ultimately to a series of service revisions approved by the STA Board of Directors. Planned or proposed changes would take place primarily during three service changes: September 2020 Service Revisions Cheney Corridor High Performance Transit Service Service enhancements on the Cheney HPT Corridor will begin in 2020. Facilities and vehicle improvements will be completed in 2021-2022. The implementation of the service and capital improvements for Cheney HPT will be finalized with the Board Planning and Development Committee through a separate process in early 2020, addressing modifications from earlier plans. For purposes of the Preliminary Proposal, it is assumed these changes will go into effect in 2020 and therefore reflected in maps within this document. May 2021 Service Revisions Greater Spokane Valley Network Adjustments Route changes are proposed in Spokane Valley, Millwood, Liberty Lake and unincorporated Spokane County in order to serve new requested destinations. The proposed changes preserve service to destinations identified in STA Moving Forward while addressing under- performing segments of the existing Route 95 Mid Valley. 2021- 2022 Service Revisions 3 Spokane Transit Authority Draft 1/30/2020 May 2022 Service Revisions City Line The City Line is a six-mile, corridor-based Bus Rapid Transit route connecting Browne’s Addition to Spokane Community College by way of Downtown Spokane and the University District. The concept and design for the City Line (previously known as the Central City Line) has been developed in collaboration with numerous stakeholders over the last several years. While the City Line will be a major part of these service changes, it is not a major focus of this report as the significant decisions regarding the routing and service levels have already been made. Increased Service to Airway Heights Two different concepts are proposed to increase service to Airway Heights consistent with STA Moving Forward. The concepts also acknowledge the role the City Line takes on as it becomes the primary service Browne’s Addition, allowing Routes 60 and 61, which currently travel through this neighborhood, to be relocated to Sunset Boulevard thereby providing direct access to Downtown Spokane. Expand Hillyard and Northeast Spokane Routes Two different concepts are proposed to increase service, improve connections to other parts of the region, serve new destinations in northeast Spokane, and enhance connectivity to other areas. These changes include discontinuing and/or modifying existing routes that duplicate the City Line routing. 2021- 2022 Service Revisions 4 Spokane Transit Authority Draft 1/30/2020 Development of the Preliminary Proposal The STA Moving Forward plan, as amended, and the board-adopted 2019 Transit Development Plan (TDP) identify several significant service changes and improvements that would go into effect in 2021 and 2022. Fixed-route service design requires a robust examination of opportunities, feedback and consideration of policies and design principles. This Preliminary Proposal has been developed in accordance with the principles and policies of Connect Spokane, STA’s comprehensive plan for public transportation, while meeting the commitments set forth in the STA Moving Forward plan. While these are rigorous requirements and policies, they still provide ample room for public input, discussion, and technical considerations. Indeed, transit planning has both elements of art and science with a heavy dosage of constraints introduced by the built environment. Given this, virtually every improvement in the STA Moving Forward plan will have an appropriately scaled public input process that precedes the implementation of the service or when specific design considerations are under evaluation. Voters’ approval of the funding for STA Moving Forward represents more of a beginning to public input rather than the final decision. The Communication and Public Input element of Connect Spokane: A Comprehensive Plan for Public Transportation states: As a public agency, Spokane Transit Authority believes that proper communications and public input is of the highest importance. To ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness, STA must use a broad range of communication tools to reach as many people as possible. Communication and Public Input Policy 1.1 Major Service Changes mandates that when major service changes are proposed (either a large service reduction, or a restructure of the network), STA will follow federal guidelines for public outreach as well as develop a Public Outreach plan that must receive approval by the STA Board. A public outreach plan for these service changes was adopted by the